Last week after giving blood I was super anemic and exhausted and kinda sick (just my body's stress reaction of "whaaaaaat didyoujustdotome????"), so I didn't work out so much.
This week, I'm back in it! I got some sweet advice from my physical therapist today about knees and things, and I'm having a good time. Look forward to more posting, although possibly not as day-to-day as before.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Day 7: still improving
Today should have been rest day. I almost made it rest day, but I pushed through and did Monday's workout, so that after I give blood tomorrow I'll be able to do a rest day.
I think I figured out what's going on with my knee. I had been adjusting my stance during stretches to be "normal" for me, but then, two days ago, I started having enough flexibility to point my feet forward, so i did. this, I think, though being alright in my muscles, caused all kinds of problems in my joints, which just aren't made for pointing forward. So today I went back to adjusting myself to point my toes out as they want to be. Though my knee was still a little sore today, it wasn't the stabbing, "STOP!" pain of yesterday.
Dinner was Hawaiian Chicken (bbq sauce and crushed pineapple over chicken) from the crockpot, over rice, with pudding for dessert. And, bonus, I have enough calories left in the day that I am supposed to eat, so I'm going to have some cereal before bedtime. (I'm tracking calories using an online tool, mostly at this point just for seeing what I can eat at the end of the day, pre-bed-snack-wise.)
I think I figured out what's going on with my knee. I had been adjusting my stance during stretches to be "normal" for me, but then, two days ago, I started having enough flexibility to point my feet forward, so i did. this, I think, though being alright in my muscles, caused all kinds of problems in my joints, which just aren't made for pointing forward. So today I went back to adjusting myself to point my toes out as they want to be. Though my knee was still a little sore today, it wasn't the stabbing, "STOP!" pain of yesterday.
Dinner was Hawaiian Chicken (bbq sauce and crushed pineapple over chicken) from the crockpot, over rice, with pudding for dessert. And, bonus, I have enough calories left in the day that I am supposed to eat, so I'm going to have some cereal before bedtime. (I'm tracking calories using an online tool, mostly at this point just for seeing what I can eat at the end of the day, pre-bed-snack-wise.)
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Day 6: too soon for improvement?
Nope, not too soon at all. This was the first day that I was faced with doing a routine that I had already done. It's probably my favorite of the routines, and I was indeed able to do it better today. And that was after spending three hours out and about with a friend.
I had to do more modifying than I would have liked... my ankle in an odd spot was sore by the end, but the big modifier was my knee. I hope that it was how I was sitting before I started exercising, but there was sharp pain at the top of my knee cap when ever I bent the knee under pressure (landing a jump, preparing a jump, etc.) I iced both sore spots after, and the knee feels fine (I haven't tested it, though), but the ankle is still a little sore. We'll see what happens, but it was encouraging that I was able to do the cardio and other things up to that point better than I had earlier in the week.
Technically, tomorrow is my day off, but since I'm giving blood on Monday, I'm going to do Monday's workout tomorrow, and take Monday off. I am ready for a day off, but I know that it'll be good to not have two days off and get thrown off my stride.(And definitely good not to even try to work out on the day I do my first blood donation.)
I had to do more modifying than I would have liked... my ankle in an odd spot was sore by the end, but the big modifier was my knee. I hope that it was how I was sitting before I started exercising, but there was sharp pain at the top of my knee cap when ever I bent the knee under pressure (landing a jump, preparing a jump, etc.) I iced both sore spots after, and the knee feels fine (I haven't tested it, though), but the ankle is still a little sore. We'll see what happens, but it was encouraging that I was able to do the cardio and other things up to that point better than I had earlier in the week.
Technically, tomorrow is my day off, but since I'm giving blood on Monday, I'm going to do Monday's workout tomorrow, and take Monday off. I am ready for a day off, but I know that it'll be good to not have two days off and get thrown off my stride.(And definitely good not to even try to work out on the day I do my first blood donation.)
Friday, March 1, 2013
Day 5
Today's workout was edited thanks to a slight headache and a too late lunch.
All cardio, but definitely reduced. Not feeling super strong, but hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Day 4: recovery
Today was a good day.
Eased up on the cardio, but really worked strength and balance.
Even had energy to go out to dinner after. But that wasn't healthy, so I won't talk to much about that.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Day 3: "delayed onset" SOREness
Today's workout seemed to go faster. Compared to yesterday, it was arm-focused. But that's not to say that it didn't work my legs, or that my arms weren't already sore from yesterday.
I have some specific areas of physical discomfort that seem to be related to equipment. I'm going to try various solutions tomorrow, relating to how I tie my shoes and what not to help in the different issues.
I was super sore today, especially in my legs, like yesterday, but with some soreness in my arms. Right now, it's in my arms and back. There was one exercise today, a tricept thing, where I did one, and then couldn't even do once more.
I'm actually looking forward to when these routines come back up in the schedule to see the progression. Yesterday's comes up again on Saturday, so we'll see soon.
I'm doing quite well at the hydration part, and am going to try putting some protein powder in my oatmeal. I think I'm going to have oatmeal either for latenight snack, or breakfast, depending on at which point I get hungry again. The meal plan that comes with the dvds recommends five smaller meals throughout the day. I like the idea of that, but the practicality is rough. Eating every three hours is tough when class lasts for three hours. (Although I did have cinnamon bread with cinnamon walnut butter for snack in the middle of my morning class today...) I'm going to try also using sparkpeople to keep track of intake/output. The program's material points out (strongly) that this isn't a program to diet during, but that with attention to eating, weight loss can happen. (Or maintenance... they have the math for you to figure out both.)
It's interesting that my legs and arms (and back a bit) are sore, but my core isn't, although the instructor talks about the core a lot. I'm not sure if it's just that my abs are stronger to begin with, or that I'm not tightening them as often as I'm supposed to. Again, I'll keep working and trying and seeing.
I have some specific areas of physical discomfort that seem to be related to equipment. I'm going to try various solutions tomorrow, relating to how I tie my shoes and what not to help in the different issues.
I was super sore today, especially in my legs, like yesterday, but with some soreness in my arms. Right now, it's in my arms and back. There was one exercise today, a tricept thing, where I did one, and then couldn't even do once more.
I'm actually looking forward to when these routines come back up in the schedule to see the progression. Yesterday's comes up again on Saturday, so we'll see soon.
I'm doing quite well at the hydration part, and am going to try putting some protein powder in my oatmeal. I think I'm going to have oatmeal either for latenight snack, or breakfast, depending on at which point I get hungry again. The meal plan that comes with the dvds recommends five smaller meals throughout the day. I like the idea of that, but the practicality is rough. Eating every three hours is tough when class lasts for three hours. (Although I did have cinnamon bread with cinnamon walnut butter for snack in the middle of my morning class today...) I'm going to try also using sparkpeople to keep track of intake/output. The program's material points out (strongly) that this isn't a program to diet during, but that with attention to eating, weight loss can happen. (Or maintenance... they have the math for you to figure out both.)
It's interesting that my legs and arms (and back a bit) are sore, but my core isn't, although the instructor talks about the core a lot. I'm not sure if it's just that my abs are stronger to begin with, or that I'm not tightening them as often as I'm supposed to. Again, I'll keep working and trying and seeing.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Days 1 & 2: Starting
I started a new workout program. It's a DVD thing, so I can workout in my room and then jump straight in the shower and maker dinner (although not simultaneously).
In order to have some accountability, and have a place to rant about sore muscles, I've created this section of my blog. So we jump in. (Although, right now, without actual jumping, 'cause, you know, muscle fatigue.)
Day one was the fit test. I did that back in October when I tried to do this program the first time. (It was the week before I started physical therapy, though, so I had to stop.) Since I still have those numbers, and was a good deal sleep deprived yesterday, I'm going to use those numbers as my baseline. I forgot to take my measurements today, so I'll do that tomorrow before I work out.
The program is a 60 (work out) day thing. They say to do the measurements and all to motivate you as you go. Okay. You work six days of the week and rest the seventh. It's intense on the cardio, focusing on on strength in different muscles groups in rotation on different days. The structure is simple: warm up, stretch, set A three times, getting more intense/faster each time, set B three times, etc. Thirty second breaks punctuate the routine for water and bringing down the heart rate (but not standing still, of course). The leader encourages not to sacrifice form, and (especially toward the end) tells different on screen participants to take a break if they're falling out of form.
Day two: wow. I had to modify some things (if it was arms and legs, I usually just did arms, girl pushups, etc) and sit out others, but i feel like I worked through the whole thing. by the end, I was adjusting since there was some definite muscle fatigue going on. But on each time through a set I pushed myself to do more. There were even some things in the last set that I laughed and didn't think I could do that by the third I was trying, and seeing I could do. (Still can't do a full push-up, but I can do horrid things like jogging in the push up position, and "ski abs" which involves going from push up position to having your feet by your left hand, back, feet by right hand, back, etc.) It's good motivation to know that I can keep going and do know my body.
The aftermath: my upper legs are in muscle rebellion. I definitely hit muscle fatigue, would rest/do some other move for awhile, and then hit muscle fatigue again. It feels good to stretch after, although my ankles don't have the balance for all the stretches he does, I have the background to do the stretches that help me. My upper legs felt it first, but the rest of me is settling into tiredness and soreness. My arms, especially, which I didn't notice during the work out, are letting me know that they worked, too. Some homework, more fluids, some sleep, and you'll hear from me again tomorrow.
In order to have some accountability, and have a place to rant about sore muscles, I've created this section of my blog. So we jump in. (Although, right now, without actual jumping, 'cause, you know, muscle fatigue.)
Day one was the fit test. I did that back in October when I tried to do this program the first time. (It was the week before I started physical therapy, though, so I had to stop.) Since I still have those numbers, and was a good deal sleep deprived yesterday, I'm going to use those numbers as my baseline. I forgot to take my measurements today, so I'll do that tomorrow before I work out.
The program is a 60 (work out) day thing. They say to do the measurements and all to motivate you as you go. Okay. You work six days of the week and rest the seventh. It's intense on the cardio, focusing on on strength in different muscles groups in rotation on different days. The structure is simple: warm up, stretch, set A three times, getting more intense/faster each time, set B three times, etc. Thirty second breaks punctuate the routine for water and bringing down the heart rate (but not standing still, of course). The leader encourages not to sacrifice form, and (especially toward the end) tells different on screen participants to take a break if they're falling out of form.
Day two: wow. I had to modify some things (if it was arms and legs, I usually just did arms, girl pushups, etc) and sit out others, but i feel like I worked through the whole thing. by the end, I was adjusting since there was some definite muscle fatigue going on. But on each time through a set I pushed myself to do more. There were even some things in the last set that I laughed and didn't think I could do that by the third I was trying, and seeing I could do. (Still can't do a full push-up, but I can do horrid things like jogging in the push up position, and "ski abs" which involves going from push up position to having your feet by your left hand, back, feet by right hand, back, etc.) It's good motivation to know that I can keep going and do know my body.
The aftermath: my upper legs are in muscle rebellion. I definitely hit muscle fatigue, would rest/do some other move for awhile, and then hit muscle fatigue again. It feels good to stretch after, although my ankles don't have the balance for all the stretches he does, I have the background to do the stretches that help me. My upper legs felt it first, but the rest of me is settling into tiredness and soreness. My arms, especially, which I didn't notice during the work out, are letting me know that they worked, too. Some homework, more fluids, some sleep, and you'll hear from me again tomorrow.
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